Fireproof rolling partition.



PATENTED OCT. 20 w. MoWORKMAN. FIREPROOF ROLLING PARTITION.

APPLICATION PIL'ED'JAN. 2a. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

A-TTORNE).

m: uonm PETERS co, PHO'TOLITH'O WASHINGTON, c c

UNITED STATES Patented October 20, 1903,

PATENT OFFICE.

FIREPRQ OF ROL'LINGQPARTITION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 741,698, dated October 20, 1903.

Application filed January 26, 1903. Serial No. 140,588. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD MOWORK MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements'in Fireproof RollingPartitions, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in flexible fireproof rolling curtains or partitions; and'it consists in a.

metallic or other non-combustible pliable material of peculiar constructiomhereinafter more fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The objects of this invention are, first, to construct a rolling curtain or partition the exterior surface or shield of which is comthe entire structure will be of uniform flexibility, and, third, to construct such noncombustible or metallic shield of said ourtain or partition of such form that it may be readily rolled on a roller of small diameter without permanent set or distortion. I attain these objects by means of the form and construction of the rolling curtain or partition illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which similar numerals of reference designate like parts throughout the several views. I

Figure l is a sectional view of a portion of a curtain or partition, showing thev pockets thereof filled with a non-combustible and non-conducting material. Fig. 2 is 'a front view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional View of said curtain or partition, showing the same bent over a roller of small diameter. Fig. 4 is a detail View of a reinforcing or tie link, and Fig. 5 is an end View of the same.

This invention is especially designed to meet the requirements of arolling metallic non-conducting and fireproof curtain or partition for use particularly in buildings where portions or spaces are required to be shut off from the main portion where it is necessary to provide against fire or the spread of fire,

and the said curtain or partition is constructed of a continuous sheet or series of sheets connected together and of a thin flexible material or metal 1-such as sheet-steel, wire-netting, or other flexible or yielding material of a non-combustible nature and capable of being worked into form, is bent over upon itself or plaited on alternate sides toform longitudinally-extending pockets 2 on each "side of the center of the thickness of the curtain or partition, and said pockets 2 are arranged to overlap or break joint. (See tain or partition and to prevent the entire weight of said curtain or partition being concentrated, and said reinforcing-links are applied to adjoining pockets at suitable intervals apart throughout the length of the curtain to secure an equaldistribution of stress due either to the weight'of the curtain or the force required to roll the same and also to prevent an excessive extension of said ourtain or partition when fully extended.

The reinforcing-links'4 are each composed, preferably, of a single' pieceof wire bent in a U form, with the ends of its prongs 5 extending or flared outwardly, and the said flared ends of said prongs are provided for the purpose of forming an'anchor to engage the filling material to assist the said link 4 to be retained or anchored in place. The said flared ends 5 are set or bent sidewise of the link (see Fig. 5) a sufiicient amount to bind tightly between the walls of the contiguous pockets or the walls of those pockets into which links are inserted. V

Having thus fully described the natureand construction of this my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to cover by Letters Patent of the United States therefor is- 1 A fireproof curtain or partition conloo structed of flexible non-combustible material bent alternately in opposing directions upon itself to form alternating pockets.

2. A fireproof curtain or partition constructed of flexible non-combustible material bent alternately on opposite sides upon itself to form alternating pockets extending across said material.

3. A fireproof curtain or partition constructed of flexible material bent alternately on opposite sides upon itself, substantially as described.

4. A fireproof curtain or partition constructed of flexible non-combustible material bent successively in opposing directions upon itself to form exterior overlapping pockets.

5. A fireproof curtain or partition constructed of a sheet of a flexible non-combustible material bent successively in opposing directions upon itself to form exterior overlapping pockets alternately situated on opposite sides of said curtain or partition.

6. A fireproof curtain or partition constructed of a continuous sheet of a flexible material of a non-combustible nature bent successively in opposing directions upon itself to form exterior pockets, and a filling composed of a non-combustible non-conducting material inclosed in each of said pockets.

7. A fireproof curtain or partition constructed of a continuous sheet of flexible noncombustible material bent successively in opposing directions upon itself to form exterior pockets, each pocket of which is filled with a flexible non-combustible non-conducting material.

8. In a fireproof curtain or partition composed of a sheet of flexible non-combustible material bent to form a series of contiguous pockets and a filling of a non-combustible non conducting material inclosed in said pockets.

9. In a fireproof curtain or partition, the combination with a curtain composed of a flexible non combustible material bent to form contiguous pockets, of a series of reinforcinglinks arranged at suitable intervals apart to connect adjoining pockets of said curtain or partition, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a fireproof curtain or partition, the combination with a curtain composed of a flexible non combustible material bent to form contiguous pockets, of a series of connecting-links arranged at suitable intervals apart to connect two adjoining pockets and said link having its free ends or prongs flared outwardly and provided with a side set, sub stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

V WILLARD MCWORKMAN. Witnesses:

THOMPSON R. BELL, C. W. DoLL. 

